Why we are needed
Many of the desperately poor people in the catchment area of the Mapé River in western Cameroon live far away from the nearest health post. To get to the nearest hospital, they first have to cross the river by boat and then travel long distances on barely passable roads. The transportation costs for this further exacerbate their poverty. There is also a lack of running water and electricity. This is despite the fact that the need is huge: the unclean water and the many branches of the Mape River encourage the spread of diseases such as typhoid and neglected tropical diseases such as leprosy, Buruli ulcer, scabies or schistosomiasis, which can be transmitted even during a short footbath.
Until 2027, we want to train 490 doctors, nurses and employees of health authorities,... ...train 793 health workers, treat 2900 people against neglected tropical diseases,... ...provide medical care to 33,000 disadvantaged people,... ... and provide medical support for 190,000 births.
How we work
To overcome these hurdles, we train health workers in the early detection and treatment of neglected tropical diseases such as leprosy. They regularly visit the remote villages, diagnose diseases, treat them and organize patient transport. We also enable local women to give birth safely and ensure that the health facilities are equipped with the necessary materials such as medicines. In this way, we are improving the health of over 200,000 people in the districts of Malantouen, Yoko and Bankim around the Mapé River, including many mothers, children, pregnant women and people who have to live with a disability due to untreated illnesses.
Would you like to learn more about how we work?
Health for the indigenous Bedzang
A special focus of the project is on the poor and discriminated indigenous Bedzang and the people who have fled the war in the English-speaking west of Cameroon. We also provide these two particularly vulnerable groups with access to health, for example by training and educating Bedzang volunteers so that they can work directly for the health of their communities.
Do you have questions on the project?
If so, Vanessa Konaté, our project manager for Cameroon and the Central African Republic, will be happy to help. You can reach her by e-mail at info@fairmed.ch.
Your donation helps
Every donation, regardless of its amount, is valuable and is used by us worldwide to improve the health of the poorest.
